Missouri St defeats FIU 79-71
Missouri St Edges FIU 79-71 in Thrilling Conference Showdown
The Great Southern Bank Arena was electric as the Missouri St Bears hosted their conference rival, Florida International University (FIU), in a back-and-forth battle that ultimately fell short for the Panthers. The home team's strong performance on both ends of the floor proved too much for FIU to handle, as they secured an 8-point victory.
At halftime, Missouri St held a slim 35-30 lead, but the Bears' defense stiffened in the second half to limit FIU's scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, the Panthers struggled to find their rhythm on offense, committing several turnovers that Missouri St capitalized on. The largest lead of the game came when Keith Palek III scored 14 points for the Bears, who took a commanding 59-51 advantage with just over five minutes left.
Despite trailing by as few as four in the final minutes, FIU refused to give up. Julian Mackey led the charge, scoring 18 points and making three of his five three-point attempts to keep the Panthers in the game. However, it wasn't enough, as Missouri St's bench proved crucial in the fourth quarter, outscoring FIU's reserves by nine points.
Palek III was the unsung hero for the Bears, recording a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. His all-around performance set the tone for the Missouri St defense, which held FIU to just 44% shooting from the field.
For FIU, Eric Dibami led the charge on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds and scoring 10 points. However, it was not enough to overcome the Bears' balanced attack, which outscored them in every category except three-pointers.
The victory marked Missouri St's first win over a top-25 opponent this season and keeps their conference hopes alive. Meanwhile, FIU's loss drops them to .500 in conference play, and they'll need to regroup quickly for their next matchup.
Key Stats:
* Missouri St: 47.0% FG, 68.2% 2PT, 32.0% 3PT
* FIU: 44.0% FG, 53.3% 2PT, 22.0% 3PT
The Bears' strong performance on both ends of the floor was a testament to their improved defense and offense this season. With Palek III leading the charge, Missouri St has proven itself to be a force to be reckoned with in conference play.